Harvest

      As the days of August tick by, the sights and feel around us begins to change. There is a coolness in the early morning that wasn’t there a few weeks ago. The flowers in the garden are putting out their last show. The apple trees are sagging under the full weight of their bounty. We have to admit to ourselves that summer is coming to a close and harvest is upon us. This time of year has such a mix of emotions for us farmers. For nine months of the year we have been working our way to this point: pruning, planting, weeding, training, mowing, tending… the list could go on. Now, we get to reap the fruits of our labour! There is excitement and thankfulness that we have a crop to harvest again this year. There is nostalgia as we think back over the years, the good and the bad, and compare this season against the rest. There is satisfaction as the pantry shelves and freezers fill up again with goods to carry us through the winter. And then, when all the trees are bare and the fields lay empty, there is a hint of sadness that it’s all over for another year, mixed with expectation of the year to come. 

At the moment however, we are too busy to think that far ahead! Harvest is ramping up to its climax, which for us means long, yet fulfilling days. The peaches are nearing the end of their season, with just the latest varieties left to pick. The Bartlett pears were picked this week, and there are three varieties of apples available in the market now with many more coming soon. At the peak of their season, the tomato and pepper fields are producing at an unbelievable rate! If you like to can tomatoes, make salsa, tomato sauce, or soup, NOW IS THE TIME! The U-Pick fields are pretty easy picking right now, and if that is not your style there are lots of pre-picked tomatoes and peppers in the market.

      I have been really enjoying cooking with fresh tomatoes these past few weeks. It’s easy to slip them into just about every meal, from enchilada sauce, to a burger or taco topping, to a hearty stew. The attached tomato soup recipe is a major family favourite around here. In fact, we ate some for lunch today and my two year old had three bowls full! It is rewarding to feed my family with healthy, fresh produce. 

      Make sure that you and your family don’t miss out on the fun of the harvest! Our U-Pick vegetables are available from now until the first frost, and starting August 30^th we have U-Pick apple tours every weekend through to the end of September. 

Happy Harvest, 

Rachel Davison
For the Family

Learn to make a simple and easy Tomato Rice Soup with Rachel and the girls! With an abundance of tomatoes, what better time to learn a new recipe!

New Event! If you haven’t indulged in Rollkuchen before you have been missing out! Come visit the farm and try this deep fried, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, traditional Mennonite summer treat accompanied by our fresh from the field watermelon. Drop-in, Friday, August 30th, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, no registration required. $14.99/Adults, $9.99/Kids.

It's hard to believe but our annual Apple Harvest Festival is just around the corner! Mark your calendars - the fun begins on Friday, August 30th and the event runs every weekend (including Fridays) from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, and U-Pick apple tours run from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Click the Upcoming Events button below for more information. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first ever "Pick Your Own Salsa" event. It was a great success and we plan to offer the same event next summer!